Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Sell out warning! The Jam Jar x Ghana musical expo continues with infectious highlife infused afro-p-funk from Brixton’s sprawling Yaaba Funk. All in celebration of Baraka’s master percussionist Ben Baddoo’s 80th birthday. Totally entrancing music FFO: Ebo Taylor, Fela Kuti, Antibalas Pat Thomas."
Join the Headfirst mailing list for our unbiased recommendations.
A gig held at The Jam Jar on Thursday 28th March. The event starts at 20:00.
Since moving to the UK from Ghana in the 1980's, the much loved Ben Baddoo has been an important part of the Bristol music scene. With roots in drumming and dancing groups, his mission to play classical music on traditional African instruments in the UK developed into a long career with some fantastic bands making people happy on the dancefloor.
This March is Ben’s birthday and he invites us all to join him in celebrating 80 years on this planet! We’re thrilled to host and attend this lovely bash for an absolute legend of Ghanaian music and all things Balafon.
Not only will Ben's band Baraka be playing a special set in celebration, the incredible Yaaba Funk are making a rare appearance to fire up the dancefloor with impeccable Hi-Life and Afrofunk grooves. The party precedes good Friday bank holiday so let’s raise a glass and hit the dancefloor!
Thursday 28th March [Bank Holiday!]
GHANA MUSIC SPECIAL
Yaaba Funk (live)
Baraka (live)
+ more
Celebrating Ben Baddoo’s 80th Birthday
Doors Open 7.30pm
At The Jam Jar, Bristol
YAABA FUNK
21st Century Hi-Life Afro Funk from Brixton.
Formed in 2006, Yaaba Funk’s sound starts with Hi-Life and brings in James Brown grooves, Sun Ra jazz, Parliament-Funkadelic jams, and more than a hint of mind-altering dub. The name Yaaba Funk comes from an album called Yaba Funk Roots, the only album ever released outside of Africa by Captain Yaba, a musician from northern Ghana and exponent of the 2-string ‘guitar’ called the koliko. On stage, this multiculti crew from Brixton hit audiences like an Afro version of the Specials meet Sly and the Family Stone
BARAKA
Hi-life, Township, Soca, Calypso and Reggae.
Fronted by Ben Baddoo, Ghanaian master musician, singer, dancer and Bristol legend,
BARAKA is a unique combination of musicians from Ghana, Senegal, Dominica, Germany, Trinidad and Southern Ireland. Each musician contributes his individual sound and style – Reggae featuring a Kora and Djembe, Township with a Calypso bassline, Hilife with Blues Harmonica, Soca with Balafon and Flute. Baraka features musical collaborations that you are unlikely to hear with any other band.
More info - GHANA MUSIC SPECIAL
This Winter The Jam Jar head to Ghana to record a collaborative album with the legends and rising stars of Ghana’s thriving music scene.
Join us throughout 2024 as we showcase Ghanaian music. From project start to completion, we are working with an amazing selection of artists, producers, and professional partners in the global music network. This project allows us to build a framework of partnerships between artists, cultural organisations, and communities in the UK and Ghana. By working closely with our partners from conception to completion, we’re able to develop a sustainable model, the benefits of which will far surpass the duration of the project.
Entry requirements: 14+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio
This March is Ben’s birthday and he invites us all to join him in celebrating 80 years on this planet! We’re thrilled to host and attend this lovely bash for an absolute legend of Ghanaian music and all things Balafon.
Not only will Ben's band Baraka be playing a special set in celebration, the incredible Yaaba Funk are making a rare appearance to fire up the dancefloor with impeccable Hi-Life and Afrofunk grooves. The party precedes good Friday bank holiday so let’s raise a glass and hit the dancefloor!
Thursday 28th March [Bank Holiday!]
GHANA MUSIC SPECIAL
Yaaba Funk (live)
Baraka (live)
+ more
Celebrating Ben Baddoo’s 80th Birthday
Doors Open 7.30pm
At The Jam Jar, Bristol
YAABA FUNK
21st Century Hi-Life Afro Funk from Brixton.
Formed in 2006, Yaaba Funk’s sound starts with Hi-Life and brings in James Brown grooves, Sun Ra jazz, Parliament-Funkadelic jams, and more than a hint of mind-altering dub. The name Yaaba Funk comes from an album called Yaba Funk Roots, the only album ever released outside of Africa by Captain Yaba, a musician from northern Ghana and exponent of the 2-string ‘guitar’ called the koliko. On stage, this multiculti crew from Brixton hit audiences like an Afro version of the Specials meet Sly and the Family Stone
BARAKA
Hi-life, Township, Soca, Calypso and Reggae.
Fronted by Ben Baddoo, Ghanaian master musician, singer, dancer and Bristol legend,
BARAKA is a unique combination of musicians from Ghana, Senegal, Dominica, Germany, Trinidad and Southern Ireland. Each musician contributes his individual sound and style – Reggae featuring a Kora and Djembe, Township with a Calypso bassline, Hilife with Blues Harmonica, Soca with Balafon and Flute. Baraka features musical collaborations that you are unlikely to hear with any other band.
More info - GHANA MUSIC SPECIAL
This Winter The Jam Jar head to Ghana to record a collaborative album with the legends and rising stars of Ghana’s thriving music scene.
Join us throughout 2024 as we showcase Ghanaian music. From project start to completion, we are working with an amazing selection of artists, producers, and professional partners in the global music network. This project allows us to build a framework of partnerships between artists, cultural organisations, and communities in the UK and Ghana. By working closely with our partners from conception to completion, we’re able to develop a sustainable model, the benefits of which will far surpass the duration of the project.
Entry requirements: 14+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio
Other world gigs
— Lost Horizon
uk garage
jungle
R&B
underground hip hop
funk
